HEALING THROUGH DARKNESS | "THE WELLZEST PODCAST" WITH DR. CHAD SCOTT, THERAPIST, TEACHER & AUTHOR |

In this powerful conversation, therapist, educator, and author Dr. Chad Scott joins Teju to explore the unexpected healing found in humanity’s darkest places. Drawing from his book Beyond the Darkness and his own journey through illness, grief, and profound transformation, Dr. Scott shares how visiting sites like Auschwitz, Hiroshima, and the Whitney Plantation can ignite empathy, perspective, and emotional breakthroughs that traditional therapy alone can’t unlock. Together, they discuss why “dark tourism” isn’t about sensationalizing tragedy—it's about honoring memory, confronting generational trauma, and discovering pieces of ourselves in places marked by suffering. From cemeteries in LA to sacred ground around the world, Dr. Scott explains how travel becomes a form of pilgrimage, reflection, and inner repair. This episode is a moving look at how stepping into the shadows can illuminate healing, deepen humanity, and reshape the way we walk through life. Chapters (00:00:00) - Dark Tourism(00:02:09) - Dark Tourism Star Visits the Hollywood Forever Cemetery(00:07:00) - The Doors on Their Childhood(00:09:00) - What was your most transformative trip as a child?(00:10:39) - What's Travel Been Like for You?(00:17:47) - The Trauma of Our Ancestors(00:21:04) - How to Define Dark Tourism(00:22:31) - Dark Tourism: Exploring the Unknown(00:29:26) - Dark Tourism: Auschwitz(00:33:52) - Exploring Your Comfort Zone Through Travel(00:35:29) - The Light of Your Life After Having a Liver Transplant(00:41:52) - How anxiety affected me after my liver transplant(00:42:26) - Dark Places of Hell(00:47:06) - Are Dark Tourism Places Safe for People?(00:49:25) - Dark Tourism and How It Affects Your Life(00:52:10) - True or False: Statements on Truth(00:52:39) - "Dark Tourism Can Bring Hope..."(00:56:56) - Judaism in Jerusalem(01:01:36) - How Travel Re-wires Your Brain(01:02:35) - "Most People Don't Know How To Grieve..."(01:04:10) - Is Dark Tourism Bad?(01:05:54) - How Movement Can Help With Trauma(01:08:16) - Travel Helped Me Gain a Broader Sense of Humanity(01:12:49) - TRAVEL Rituals(01:16:45) - "I love to travel"(01:17:29) - ChatGPT: Lonely Planet travel videos(01:20:10) - What's the Most Understood Emotion? Anger(01:21:31) - "One place you'll never go back to..."(01:23:55) - Does Anyone Get Lonely On Solo Trips?(01:25:37) - China vs France: The Most Surprising Moment(01:29:23) - Grief Tourism(01:31:06) - Travel Confessions: Influencers Lead Transformation Trips(01:33:11) - What Kind of Cultural Theory Lies Behind Dark Tourism?(01:37:07) - Is War Tourism Educational or Unethical?(01:40:27) - What's In My Bag?(01:44:37) - Flying With A Minimalist Bag(01:46:02) - Where Can You Find Dr. Chad Scott?